What do you think of Land Value Tax (LVT)

[Travlyr]

'Tax' is really a misnomer imo. Ground rent is a more appropriate term. We would be reimbursing the community for the privilege of keeping a piece of land for ourselves.

Furthermore, as one grows older and can no longer afford to pay the rent, the community can take it away from the owner and find someone else who will pay the ransom.

 

[johnrocks]

I detest any type property tax. My Brother had cancer and got behind on his mortgage and had a $1500 property tax bill hit and almost lost his home due to this, while the mortgage company worked with him, government could care less about his "sob story".


Screw property taxes!!!

 

[Travlyr]

I detest any type property tax. My Brother had cancer and got behind on his mortgage and had a $1500 property tax bill hit and almost lost his home due to this, while the mortgage company worked with him, government could care less about his "sob story".


Screw property taxes!!!

I agree. One of the great promises of early America was that people were like the "kings" in that their land was theirs and theirs alone. Nobody could take it away from them without just compensation. Sovereign title to property delivers security to homeowning individuals and should be restored.

 

[archangel689]

Land Value Tax on Wikipedia

Indeed, property taxes are more evil than regular taxes and this is just that, a more evil property tax. If they can take your home away for non-payment, they are basically claiming to be the true owner of the property. What is the reason why they think they can take money from you? Because they have guns, that's the only reason.

If anything, property tax should be one of the first ones to be removed and the only thing more evil might be inflation or VAT taxes.

 

[archangel689]

I agree. I also wouldn't be against luxury taxing people who own multiple plots of land. Primary residence should NOT be taxed, so this would cover 95% of the population. You just don't want people hording land so I'd think a minor land luxury tax might be a good idea.

What gives you the right to take guns to the door of a man and demand that he give you money so that you can give it to someone else based on how much wealth he has?

 

[archangel689]

I agree. I also wouldn't be against luxury taxing people who own multiple plots of land. Primary residence should NOT be taxed, so this would cover 95% of the population. You just don't want people hording land so I'd think a minor land luxury tax might be a good idea.

What gives you the right to take guns to the door of a man and demand that he give you money so that you can give it to someone else based on how much wealth he has? His ownership does not impede the life liberty or property of anyone else.

 

[erowe1]

I detest any type property tax. My Brother had cancer and got behind on his mortgage and had a $1500 property tax bill hit and almost lost his home due to this, while the mortgage company worked with him, government could care less about his "sob story".


Screw property taxes!!!

That kind of thing couldn't happen with a plan like Jefferson's that only levies taxes on larger plots of land.

 

[redbluepill]

Furthermore, as one grows older and can no longer afford to pay the rent, the community can take it away from the owner and find someone else who will pay the ransom.

Why do you assume one cannot afford it as they get older? On average older people tend to be much more well off than younger people. Plus the removal of the income tax, sales tax, capital tax, etc will more than offset the burden of the land value tax.

 

[Pericles]

I agree 100%. Property tax is even worse than an income tax. I can't think of a worse form of taxation than one that can result in your home being confiscated.

Correct answer. Taxes should be based on consumption, in order to encourage savings and capital formation.

 

[Seraphim]

There certainly is enough land to go around for each of us! However, land is limited. Good land is even more limited. We have poverty because of the lack of access to the land and its resources. The government gives to the powerful what mother nature provides and the rest suckle their teet. The land value tax helps level the playing field.
And Milton Friedman said he LIKED the land tax. I would say that is advocating it.

"Yes, there are taxes I like. For example, the gasoline tax, which pays for highways. You have a user tax. The property tax is one of the least bad taxes, because it's levied on something that cannot be produced — that part that is levied on the land."
http://www.wealthandwant.com/themes/quotable_nobels.htm

You say government creates the distortion and then your plan is to tax and further empower the government.

"With enemies like you, who the fuck needs friends" - so says the government.

 

[psi2941]

I agree. I also wouldn't be against luxury taxing people who own multiple plots of land. Primary residence should NOT be taxed, so this would cover 95% of the population. You just don't want people hording land so I'd think a minor land luxury tax might be a good idea.

I strongly agree, even when you see people on tv, you see people hording crappy little things. Primary residence should not be taxed. after, that 3-4% property tax should keep land prices really low.

but one begs the question what about commercial property and farm land?

about farm land, most farmers don't own their land, they "rent" is from "owners"

EDIT: to play devils advocate, if you really support ron paul, you can't say property tax is unconstitutional. because the property tax is at the city, county, and state level. if you don't like move to a state with no property tax, oh wait there isn't any

 

[VBRonPaulFan]

The least 'evil' tax isn't a tax at all, it's voluntary contributions by the populace to keep said government running. Also, user fees for government services provided that are necessary in one form or another.

Allowing the government to levy a fee on your land cedes your sovereignty of ownership over said land. You're basically telling them they can have it and let you know what you need to do to keep it.

 

[LibForestPaul]

I pay 50 gold pieces for a plot of land with a house on it.
I have no more income for paying my assessed yearly LVT.
"Laws" prevent my eviction.
However, at the end of my being, my land and house is to be taken back by the state?
Why does the state get my 50 gold pieces? What value have they added to my land?
Did they cut back my trees? Did they perform yard work for me? Grow a garden for me?

 

[redbluepill]

You say government creates the distortion and then your plan is to tax and further empower the government.

"With enemies like you, who the fuck needs friends" - so says the government.

The LVT is based on market value. Not whatever the government says the 'tax' should be. It empowers those who would normally become 'slaves' to the landlord, who acts no differently than a government.

 

[redbluepill]

The least 'evil' tax isn't a tax at all, it's voluntary contributions by the populace to keep said government running. Also, user fees for government services provided that are necessary in one form or another.

Allowing the government to levy a fee on your land cedes your sovereignty of ownership over said land. You're basically telling them they can have it and let you know what you need to do to keep it.

I like user fees as well. I have no problem paying tolls (though i do have a problem with politicians dipping into toll money for things other than transportation).

Government has no rightful claim to ownership of land. God provided land for us all to share, not to horde.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

land tax?no. HELL NO>

 

[redbluepill]

Nobody ever disputed the Thomas Paine quote. I'll post it again: “it is the value of the improvements only, and not the Earth itself, that is individual property."

Is Thomas Paine wrong? If he is wrong in his assumption then what is the definition of individual property? Is property what we create through the fruit of our labor? If that is the case then how does an individual create land or its resources?

 

[redbluepill]

land tax?no. HELL NO>

Happy to see a thoughtful contribution to the thread. ;-)

 

[Seraphim]

I like user fees as well. I have no problem paying tolls (though i do have a problem with politicians dipping into toll money for things other than transportation).

Government has no rightful claim to ownership of land. God provided land for us all to share, not to horde.

And yet your solution is to use government to enforce your ideological belief of what is "productive" use of land.

 

[redbluepill]

And yet your solution is to use government to enforce your ideological belief of what is "productive" use of land.

Government has a role to ensure that land is not monopolized by just a few. We have continuous poverty in the best nation in the world because we have allowed a select few to control nearly all of it.

Ever played the game Monopoly? Did you know that Monopoly is based on The Landlord Game. It was created to teach people how landlords prevent true productivity. At a certain point in the game its nearly impossible to win. Very similar to the real world. Did you know that only 3% of the population owns 95% of the land? Without the right tax reform this is not going to change (and will prbly only get worse).